Holmesglen Institute of TAFE

General English All prospective HLC language students have to attend an interview and undergo a placement test prior to commencing any type of English course. An appointment will be made for an interview by the Language Assistant or the Administration Assistant in the Language Program Office. The applicant will be advised to bring his/her passport if she/he has been in Australia for 6 years or less. The students' English language proficiency is tested in all four skills (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening) and is rated according to the International Second Language Proficiency Rating (ISLPR) Scale. The aim of the interview and placement test is to allow us to determine the students' English language proficiency and then place them in the most appropriate class that meets their needs.

ㆍCourse in Preliminary Spoken and Written English This is an elementary level course for students who are pre-beginners and have just started learning English.

ㆍCertificate I in Spoken and Written English This is a beginners' course for students who do not know much English and want to learn basic skills of language.

ㆍCertificate II in Spoken and Written English This is a course for students with basic skills who wish to increase their confidence and improve their ability to communicate.

ㆍCertificate III in Spoken and Written English This is a course for students at intermediate level who wish to consolidate and further develop their English communication skills.

ESL- Academic and Vocational Many of our students go on to the next level until they feel they have enough English to go into a mainstream course (eg marketing, business studies, hospitality etc) or to get a job. Some of our courses prepare you for particular areas of work and study. These courses include:

ㆍCertificate III in ESL (Access) This is a course for students who want higher-level English skills for living and working in Australia.

ㆍEnglish for Work (Office) - Certificate III in ESL (Employment) This is a full time course for migrants with a professional or semi-professional background in office administration

ㆍEnglish for Further Study - Certificate III in ESL (Further Study) This course aims to provide students of non-English speaking backgrounds with the language, cross-cultural communication and study skills needed to undertake vocational education and further study.

ㆍAcademic English - Certificate IV in ESL (Further Study) This course aims to provide students of non-English speaking backgrounds with the language, cross-cultural communication and study skills needed to undertake vocational education and further study.

Preparation for IELTS Holmesglen TAFE offers preparation for IELTS courses in the Academic and General Training modules. It recommends an Academic IELTS score for entry into mainstream courses. A General Training score is often required for immigration purposes. For more information on immigration, go to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs website at www.immi.gov.au Both modules test students' levels in the 4 areas of listening, reading, writing and speaking. Courses are offered in 10 week blocks, corresponding to the term dates. Classes run for 3 hours providing a total of 30 hours preparation over a term. Currently classes are held on Wednesday afternoons and Friday mornings and Saturday mornings. Who can apply? • ELICOS students: For these students there is no fee as the cost of IELTS classes has been covered by their overall course fees. • Migrant students attending English classes at Holmesglen. The fee of $280 applies (subject to change). • External students: People who are not HOLMESGLEN students, but wish to prepare for IELTS a $280 fee applies for the 10 week course Since IELTS tasks are quite challenging, students are recommended to have an English language level equal to level 3 classes (ISLPR 1+). If you are unsure of your current language level eg - external students, you will be assessed before enrolling. The course is also beneficial for those who are not intending to take the exam but simply want more high level English study. How will the course help you? • It will give you an overview of the exam • It will teach you exam techniques • It will familiarise you with different question types • You can improve your listening skills (for general and specific information) • You will practise reading strategies (skimming & scanning for main ideas and details, summarising, recognising opinion & attitudes)

Workplace English This is an intermediate level English course, designed to assist students to learn English, as required within workplace giving practice in listening, speaking, reading and writing as well as help with grammar and pronunciation. It would be suitable for people from a non-English speaking background who need to improve their ability in the English language and intend to work in Australia. The principal focus of the course is on learning English with workplace topics such as • Developing Listening and Speaking Skills • Developing Reading and Writing Skills • Intermediate Negotiation Skills • Intermediate Spoken Discourse Skills • Intermediate Written Discourse Skills • Intermediate Written Expression Skills • Communicate in the Workplace Who is it for? • students who are at an intermediate level of English - Level 1+ in all skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing) • those who wish to improve their skills in the English Language as well as acquire specialist knowledge What will you do in class? • use workplace English vocabulary • practise grammar • communicate effectively using the telephone, fax machines, email and internet • practise negotiation skills • learn how to write business reports and essays • practise presentation skills Upon successful completion of this course, students are eligible to receive the Certificate III in English as a Second Language with an additional Unit in Workplace Communication. This course is based on the Certificate III in Spoken and Written English and comprises 20 weeks at 22 hours per week. The course is offered at the Chadstone campus. The Holmesglen Workplace English course is a highly practical program including: • high quality teaching by professional staff, who have a business background

Study Skills ESL Study Skills This is a four-week Study Skills and English language intensive program which is offered at the beginning and middle of each year. The program is 24 hours per week. The program consists of study skills only and is designed for students with an intermediate or stronger level of English. Who can apply? Students who are commencing formal mainstream courses in February and July. The Holmesglen Study Skills course provides students with focussed, practical preparation for higher study including: • Note-taking • Summarising • Writing assignments and reports • Using academic conventions eg referencing

CertificateIV in TESOL The Certificate IV in TESOL is designed for people who would like to teach English as a Second Language (ESL) in Australia and overseas. Within Australia it is recognised by the national accreditation scheme for English Language Centres (NEAS Australia) as an initial qualification in TESOL. Successful graduates who have a degree and appropriate experience are eligible to apply for work in private language centres in Australia. - What are the aims of the course? The Certificate IV in TESOL is a nationally recognised course, which gives candidates practical skills in teaching English to speakers of other languages. The course also aims to develop candidates' language analysis skills and awareness of cultural factors in language learning. - What is the content? The course is practical in its focus and includes observation and 6 hours teaching practice. Candidates are introduced to techniques of classroom management and assessment, language presentation, lesson preparation and analysing language for communicative purposes. It is delivered by a mixture of face-to-face sessions, on-line learning and self-study. Assessment is integrated and consists of assignments and tests of essential knowledge, project work, lesson planning, preparation and production of resources and assessed teaching practice. - Who is it for? For people who have degrees, the qualification will help them find work teaching in language centres in Australia. People with or without degrees will find it useful in getting work in language schools overseas. People who wish to work in a volunteer capacity in community-based organisations will also benefit from this course. The course is available to both native speakers and speakers of other languages. To apply for the course you need to complete an application form and pre-interview task and attend an individual interview. To be selected for the course, you must meet the following requirements: • Be at least 18 years of age • Be eligible for tertiary education (i.e. have Year 12 or equivalent) • Have a good level of spoken and written English (IELTS 5.5 minimum for speakers of other languages - IELTS 6 and above preferred) • Meet the minimum requirements of the pre-interview task and interview